24 – Opportunity (1)
“…I’m sure. It’s her, no matter how you look at it.”
She looked at the woman’s face in the photo several times, just in case.
Minutely remembering faces was not Ji-ah’s thing, but she remembered that woman’s face.
Perhaps it was to be expected.
Her first impression had been quite impressive.
Like a wife kicked out of her house sitting on the street.
very miserable and pitiful.
The sight of her muttering Gunyul’s name and sobbing was not something one could easily see.
“If that woman is really my brother’s ex-girlfriend…”
Looking at the photo, it seemed undeniable.
No matter how close they were, no one takes a picture of themselves kissing their friend.
So the question arising in her mind was one of doubt.
“…..Why was she so desperate for my brother?”
And Gunyul’s reaction, which was strangely cold.
He was always gentle and affectionate, but at that moment, it was different.
The expression on Geon-yul’s face, which was so cold that it was frightening, came to mind.
There was definitely something unknown between them.
“Maybe that’s it. It must be a difficult situation to talk about.”
The words Geon-yul had said with a bitter expression at the pasta restaurant they first went to.
It probably had something to do with this.
“I wonder what it is. Seriously.”
Curiosity bloomed in Jia’s mind.
She knew that it wasn’t a good behavior to be interested in someone else’s love life.
But it was Geon-yul she was dealing with.
A man who might soon become her boyfriend.
Wouldn’t she be curious about his past relationships?
Jia rationalized it that way.
And as she pondered, a foreboding feeling brushed her head.
“No way… could it be… him wanting to get back together?”
Logically, there seemed to be no other answer.
Their relationship involved Geon-yul’s ex-girlfriend and ex-boyfriend.
Geon-yul, who had pushed her away coldly, and the woman who persistently tried to engage with him.
Wasn’t it a familiar sight from somewhere?
It felt like a development you would see in a melodramatic web drama, but Jia knew that such things actually happened frequently.
Reality was more melodramatic than dramas.
“…If that’s the case.”
Thinking like that, something bubbled up in her heart.
It was a mix of uneasiness and bewildering suspicion.
…What will happen if that woman succeeds in persuading him?
Will it all end for me like this?
She had already fallen for him.
At this point, no one could take Geon-yul away from her.
“…Absolutely not. I don’t want that.”
Of course, considering Geon-yul’s attitude towards that woman, it was unlikely to happen.
But you never knew with human affairs.
I’ve heard that there are quite a few incidents when emotions are revived with my ex-partner.
To prevent causing any trouble, I had to make sure that woman couldn’t come near my brother.
At least until I take her place as his girlfriend.
“…But, how would I tell my brother about this… ugh…”
I wanted Gyueon to promise not to meet that woman.
But to tell him that, I had to admit that I had been spying on her profile picture.
And even disclose my own delusions.
…What if I say something unnecessary and end up being hated.
Such anxiety crept up on me.
Even though we’re not dating, doesn’t it seem like I am too obsessed with him?
Seoyeon too always said that men don’t like women who are too obsessed.
In the midst of worrying about what I should do,
Uuung
My phone’s vibration interrupted my thoughts.
It was a message through KakaoTalk.
And the name on the screen was the person I had been thinking about all that time.
It was Gyueon.
[Jiya. Are you asleep?]
Seeing his message, the emotions that had been lingering just moments ago disappeared instantly.
And I felt refreshingly clear-headed, like the sky after the rain.
[No! I’m not sleeping. What’s up?]
I quickly replied to him.
And then, Gyueon’s next message.
[I’ve thought about it. Should our next date be at the PC Bang?]
[The PC Bang?]
It felt quite difficult to suggest a place like that when we hadn’t known each other for long.
Especially since we weren’t even friends, just in the early stages of dating.
[Yeah. I thought we should both feel comfortable with each other this time.]
[Okay.]
[I hope you don’t feel burdened by going out with me. That’s why I want to try a more relaxed atmosphere this time.]
Because of what happened today, it seemed like a course chosen out of consideration for oneself.
Certainly, today’s course had a conventional yet weighty feel to it.
It wasn’t incredibly comfortable or relaxed.
[Is that so? I like it. hehehe.]
[Really? Are you sure it’s alright?]
[Yes. We agreed to rank together last time. We can do that together too!]
[Now that I think about it, that’s right. I almost forgot. True.]
I was excited.
A PC bang date with my older brother.
It was one of the things she had always wanted to do when she got a boyfriend.
Playing games together, feeding him food since he couldn’t use both hands.
Kyaa. I’m already excited.
[So, when should we have our next appointment?…]
With that, they decided their date schedule but didn’t easily end their conversation.
Jia and I had a sweet night together.
*
The date with Jia took place not long after.
Under the warm sunlight, I was on my way to the large square near the PC bang.
Jia and I agreed to meet at the square near the university.
As summer approached, the weather became increasingly hot and humid.
I noticed Jia sitting on a bench next to the fountain in the distance.
Now I could recognize her even from afar.
As I approached, waving my hand, she quickly stood up and walked towards me, flustered.
“Walk slowly. You might fall.”
“hehehe. I just wanted to see your face as soon as possible, oppa.”
Jia spoke with a trembling voice as soon as we met.
Her honest expression of emotions without pretense always made my heart flutter.
Not wanting to reveal my own trembling heart, I quickly changed the subject.
“Alright. Let’s go now. We should enter the PC bang quickly.”
“It’s still spring, but it’s so hot, isn’t it?”
Summer seemed to make Jia’s attire even shorter.
Jia was dressed in a floral blouse and a mini skirt.
The white mini skirt was so short that it revealed her pristine thighs.
Unconsciously, my gaze drifted in that direction.
“…Oppa~? I can feel your suggestive gaze on my legs. What’s going on?”
She must have noticed my gaze because she teased me with a mischievous smile.
I felt a bit embarrassed for no reason and cleared my throat, shifting my gaze away.
“If you want to look, you can. I was just teasing. After all, I dressed like this to show it off to you.”
“No, let’s go quickly.”
“Ah, you’re changing the subject again. Fine, I’ll let it go this time.”
Honestly, I was a little taken aback by her permission to look, but I wasn’t a pervert to the extent of openly admiring a woman’s legs.
And I knew not to believe everything women said.
“…Instead, should I expect some punishment? I did something wrong, right?”
“What kind of punishment?”
With such a provocative tone, Jia smiled playfully and declared her punishment to me.
I walked alongside her, awaiting my punishment.
And then, Jia’s fingers gently entwined with mine.
It felt as soft and warm as touching fine silk.
“How about this? Holding hands on a hot day as punishment. Do you like it?”
…It wasn’t so bad for a punishment.
But her sudden display of affection reminded me of our last date.
Was this also an attempt to close the gap between us in a hurry?
“Isn’t this a bit too rushed? Aren’t you nervous?”
When I asked that, Jia narrowed her eyes and stared at me.
Then she puffed up her cheeks and said to me.
“Oppa, are you going to say that every time I want some physical contact? It makes me feel like you’ll get hurt.”
“No… it’s not that…”
“I genuinely like you, Oppa. Last time, I might have been a bit pushy, but it’s because I wanted to do it.”
She said all this, and I didn’t know what else to say.
Maybe I was overreacting to such light physical contact because I liked her.
Sure. Let’s think positively. Positively.
“Okay. Sorry. I misspoke.”
As a sign of apology, I slipped my finger through the gap between Ji-a’s fingers.
It was commonly called the “lover’s pinky.”
When my finger entered her hand, she looked surprised and glanced at me.
She had a cute reaction when she was initially defensive but startled when it was initiated by me.
“What is this?”
“What should I call it? A sign of apology?”
“Hmph. That’s so like you, Oppa. Let’s go quickly. It’s hot.”
We held hands and headed to the PC room.
.
.
.
.
*Ding*
With a small chime, we stepped into the refreshing atmosphere of the PC room.
Ji-a and I still hadn’t let go of each other’s hands.
“Welcome.”
“Welcome…”
The voices of male and female employees echoed harmoniously like a choir.
Usually, I wouldn’t pay attention and just walk in.
But for some reason, the interrupted greeting voice felt familiar.
…I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before.
I turned my head slightly and glanced towards the counter.
Then, I noticed a woman disappearing into the kitchen.
She seemed to be the one whose voice got cut off earlier.
However, it was difficult to guess who she was just from that fleeting glimpse.
“Why? What’s over there?”
Looking at me staring at the counter with a strange expression, Ji-a asked.
Was it a voice similar to a famous celebrity or singer?
“I feel like I’m overthinking it,” I replied to Jia, turning my head.
“It’s nothing. I just got used to the voice.”
…Would it have been better if I had left the PC room at that time?
If only I had noticed the owner of that familiar voice sooner, it would have been better.